What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Holbrook has the most affordable homes ($465k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoneham	Holbrook
People
Population	23,355Highest	11,380Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA
	Holbrook and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holbrook and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA
	Holbrook and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA	$465,400±$21kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 9% above MA	$6,105Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holbrook and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Holbrook
High school in town	Stoneham High	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.